PHOTO: Iowa Wild Do Not Retire #1

Posted by
Nathan Wells on Tuesday, June 04, 2013

As the days get hotter, the newly born AHL Iowa Wild continue to grow their hockey legs from the ashes of the Houston Aeros. This photo, posted on the AHL team's Twitter page, welcomes announcers Joe O'Donnell and Josh Fisher to the fold. Both O'Donnell and Fisher are holdovers from the Aeros. Each moved up to Des Moines along with the team and are rewarded with this photo and/or #1 jerseys.

What is interesting about the photo more than anything is the number and branding. One positive about having the AHL Wild 4 hours south of the Twin Cities is the ability to co-brand rather than be out of sight, out of mind. The "we are one" and unity speaks to that belief.
At the same time, the Iowa Wild running with #1 is better than just retiring the number like its parent did.

Minnesota retired the number one in 2000 prior to the first home game in franchise history. The idea was to honor the fans, who at that point were the best supporters of a team that never had any.

Publicity stunt or not, the #1 sits by itself in the Xcel Energy Center rafters like the loneliest number it is with only a 2007-2008 Northwest Division title banner to occasionally drop by and keep company.

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